Steaks grilled over an open fire next to a rodeo — it's a quintessentially Lone Star setting for a great evening at the Tejas Steakhouse & Saloon, 401 Obst Road in Bulverde.

This place is authenticity incarnate. Open on the weekends, it features a real rodeo that takes place on Saturday nights. Visit on that day to experience a piece of rural Texas that transforms a dinner into a dining experience.

It's easy to see why readers chose it as best new restaurant, along with awarding it the bronze medal for best outdoor dining and tying it for bronze as a place to take out-of-town guests.

Some of the dishes here are insanely good bits of home cooking, such as the tender, flaky and slightly cheesy biscuits that any cook would be proud to claim as a family specialty, or the green beans with a touch of sourness and underlying sweetness that evoke the image of fresh green beans carefully packed into a mason jar.

Similarly good is the green chile macaroni and cheese, which delivers a little heat while still maintaining a sense of balance. More home-cooking goodness comes with the house-made salad dressings, especially the regular ranch and chipotle ranch.

Meats grilled on an open flame add more cowboy authenticity, and selections from an array of special house cocktails only enhance the experience.